of bennington



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

A. M. DAY, 0E BENNINGTON, VERMONT.

CLAVICLE-ADJUSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,828, dated July 5, 1853.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALMiRoN M. DAY, o-f Bennington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clavicle-Adjusters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan of the instrument. Fig. 2 is an end view of the instrument with straps attached, Fig. 3 is a view showing the arrangement of the several parts when in use.

Similar characters on the several figures denote the same part of the instrument.

My clavicle adjuster is designed to rest over the scapula to retain the shoulders in their natural posit-ion, acting as a counter brace during the healing process of the fractured clavicle; it is held in position by a strap at each extremity, attached to the anterior of the instrument, and passing un. der the axila or arm pit is fastened to the posterior, thus -causing the instrument to press upon the acromial process of the scapula. Another strap attached to the extremity of the instrument holds the arm in its proper position and prevents the sinking of the shoulder which interferes so greatly with the uniting of the fractured part. The instrument. when adjusted cannot be moved from its place and by its action upon the clavicle preserves it in the most favorable position to facilitate the healing.

The construct-ion and operation will be fully understood by reference to the drawings, in whichWd A represents a yoke hollowed out to fit the neck, the extremities extending OWer the shoulders and hollowed as seen in Fig. 2 to fit them; this yoke is properly lined and padded so as not to chafe the parts upon which it rests. 0n the top of the yoke are the ears B and B through either pair o-f which to suit the size of the patient are passed the straps C, furnished with the sliding pads D; at the extremities of the arms of the yoke A are the hooks E, and in front the hooks F, the operation of which will be presently described.

The operation of this instrument is as follows: The yoke A is placed over the shoulders of the patient, as seen in Fig. 3, and the strap C on the uninjured side, passed under the axila and tightened by the buckle P bringing the arm of the yoke to press upon the acromial process of the scapula. The opposite or fractured side is then treated in the same manner, until the yoke bears equally on both shoulders. The strap I is then suspend-ed from the hook E, on the fractured side by the buckle R, and drawn up until the elbow in its natural position rests in the sling Q, thus preventing the shoulder from dropping; the strap I held by the hook F supports the fore arm in its sling in the manner shown in Fig. 8. This arrangement effectually holds up the arm and serves as a compress upon the acromial process of the scapula, keeping the fractured portions of the clavicle close together and in the proper position for uniting, effectually preventing the falling of the shoulder, and at the same time furnishing a compress such that while the shoulder is held in position and the acromial process sufficiently compressed the forearm is at liberty to move at will; thus differing' from all instruments of this character previously used.

This instrument has been tested and approved of by all surgeons to whose notice it has been brought; and its merits cannot fail to impress themselves upon all persons who examine the instrument, and are acquainted with its action.

I do not of itself claim a yoke to fit the neck, but

That I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arms of the yoke A hollowed as described, in combination with the straps C and I attached and operating as described, by means of which the acromial process of the scapula is compressed and the arm held in position, for uniting a fracture of the clavicle substantially as speciiied.

In testimony whereof, I 'have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

ALMiEoN M. DAY.

Vitnesses:

GEO. PATTEN, JN0. OBER. 

